Lighting unit with multiple light sources to emit functional light or dynamic lighting effect
View Patent ↗Lighting units, lighting unit controls and lighting control methods are described herein. In various embodiments, a lighting unit ( 100, 500, 600, 700 ) may include a first light source ( 106, 06, 606, 706 ) that is adjustable to emit first light having a range of levels of a particular lighting property, such as brightness, saturation or hue. The lighting unit may further include a second light source ( 108, 508, 608, 708 ) that automatically, and independently of the first light source, transitions between a plurality of states in which the second light source emits second light at a plurality of levels of the particular lighting property that collectively form a dynamic effect.
1. A lighting unit comprising:
a housing;
a first light source contained within the housing that is adjustable to emit first light at a range of brightness levels;
a second light source contained within the housing; and
a flicker modulator to automatically transition second light source between a plurality of states in which the second light source emits second light at a plurality of brightness levels that collectively form a dynamic effect,
wherein the flicker modulator transitions the second light source between the plurality of states independently of how the first light source is adjusted,
wherein the housing forms a dome-shaped light guide, and at least some of the first light is emitted along a wall of the dome-shaped light guide to be guided generally perpendicular to a surface of the housing,
wherein the first light source is dimmable, and
wherein the first light source stops emitting the first light in response to being dimmed below a floor brightness level.
2. The lighting unit of claim 1 , wherein the first light source and the second light source includes one or more light-emitting diodes.
3. The lighting unit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of states comprise at least one of a fully energized state, a half energized state, and a not energized state.
4. The lighting unit of claim 1 , wherein the first and second light sources are powered by an AC power source, and the lighting unit further comprises an AC/DC convertor to convert AC power from the AC power source to a constant voltage for the flicker modulator.
5. The lighting unit of claim 1 , wherein the first and second light sources are independently adjustable to alter a hue, saturation or color temperature of the first and second lights, respectively.
6. A lighting unit comprising:
a housing;
a first light source contained within the housing that is adjustable to emit first light at a range of brightness levels;
a second light source contained within the housing; and
a flicker modulator to automatically transition second light source between a plurality of states in which the second light source emits second light at a plurality of brightness levels that collectively form a dynamic effect,
wherein the flicker modulator transitions the second light source between the plurality of states independently of how the first light source is adjusted,
wherein the housing forms a dome-shaped light guide, and at least some of the first light is emitted along a wall of the dome-shaped light guide to be guided generally perpendicular to a surface of the housing, and
wherein the second light source responds to a request from a control lighting interface comprising lighting scene selection buttons to emit a particular lighting scene in different ways depending on a brightness level of the first light.
7. A lighting control method, comprising:
adjusting a first light source of a lighting unit to emit first light at one of a range of brightness levels; and
automatically transitioning a second light source of the lighting unit between a plurality of states in which the second light source emits second light at a plurality of brightness levels that collectively form a dynamic effect;
wherein the second light is visible while the first light source is adjusted to emit light below a particular brightness level; and
wherein the second light is invisible while the first light source is adjusted to emit light above the particular brightness level,
the lighting control method further comprising:
receiving a request from a control lighting interface comprising lighting scene selection buttons to emit a particular lighting scene;
energizing the second light source to emit light having a first property when the first light has a first level of brightness; and
energizing the second light source to emit light having a first property when the first light has a first level of brightness; and
energizing the second light source to emit light having a second property that is different than the first property when the first light has a second level of brightness.